There is, however, a little more to the announcement: The actor will also provide the voice of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur, a character only briefly mentioned in the J.R.R. Tolkien novel but later revealed to be a manifestation of Sauron, the primary antagonist of The Lord of the Rings. That would seem to indicate another actor will lend his voice to Smaug (Deadline early heard it will likely be Bill Nighy).

The confirmation of Cumberbatch's role came shortly after Deadline reported that Luke Evans, who stars in the upcoming Three Musketeers, has been cast as Bard the Bowman, the grim-faced guardsman of Lake-town and heir of the last king of old Dale who ultimately slays the cunning and fearsome Smaug.